2015 Ford Escape Engine Problems
Owners have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2015 Ford Escape, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 74,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “coolant intrusion” (8% of reports).
- 239engine complaints
- 74,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $10,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Coolant intrusion: mentioned in 20 of 239 complaints (8%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 15 of 239 complaints (6%)
- Smoke exhaust: mentioned in 13 of 239 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2015 Ford Escape at $10,050, and half of them between $7,700 and $10,800.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 123 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 239 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford Escape engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Escape | 2 | 67% | — |
| 2025 Escape | 5 | 19% | — |
| 2024 Escape | 13 | 17% | 4,092 |
| 2023 Escape | 28 | 28% | 6,200 |
| 2022 Escape | 33 | 14% | 39,200 |
| 2021 Escape | 44 | 13% | 79,000 |
| 2020 Escape | 121 | 8% | 65,500 |
| 2019 Escape | 316 | 53% | 61,194 |
| 2018 Escape | 1,165 | 64% | 78,667 |
| 2017 Escape | 1,579 | 59% | 70,000 |
| 2016 Escape | 200 | 17% | 64,000 |
| 2015 Escape | 239 | 21% | 74,000 |
| 2014 Escape | 727 | 35% | 74,000 |
| 2013 Escape | 1,265 | 46% | 75,000 |
| 2012 Escape | 73 | 12% | 40,500 |
| 2011 Escape | 248 | 19% | 47,102 |
| 2010 Escape | 493 | 24% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Escape | 254 | 15% | 70,167 |
| 2008 Escape | 83 | 4% | 85,500 |
| 2007 Escape | 25 | 10% | 100,400 |
| 2006 Escape | 47 | 10% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Escape | 130 | 9% | 113,000 |
| 2004 Escape | 31 | 6% | 109,748 |
| 2003 Escape | 24 | 4% | 127,413 |
| 2002 Escape | 36 | 4% | 150,000 |
| 2001 Escape | 27 | 3% | 125,436 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, her husband became aware that there was fire coming from under the hood. The fire was three feet high. The contact's husband attempted to extinguish the fire. The Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished…
Engine cylinder head. Coolant is leaking into the engine cylinder(s) (coolant intrusion). Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I was driving to DCA and while on [XXX] on the highway my engine totally overheated requiring I drift into an isolated parking area near east potomac park. I…
I am hoping you can help me. I have a 2015 Ford Escape. It has 107,000 miles on it. I do the regular maintenance items as needed. Last Friday I was driving my car and my temperature gauge went to Hot and my Check Engine Light came on. It said to pull over and stop engine. I pulled over and let it…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 Ford Escapes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 239 owner complaints about engine for the 2015 Ford Escape (21% of the 1,116 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Ford Escape engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 74,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2015 Ford Escape?
Owners report a typical cost of $10,050 (half paid between $7,700 and $10,800), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2015 Ford Escape?
The most frequent phrase is “coolant intrusion”, in 20 of 239 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (15).
Other 2015 Ford Escape problems
See all 2015 Ford Escape problems or engine problems across all Escape years.